Visakhapatnam/Gopalpur: Cyclone Hudhud is now weakening after almost a day since it pounded the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coastline. Nearly 4 lakh people have been evacuated from the coastal districts in the two states where the death toll has mounted to 8.
The intensity of the cyclone has reduced from over 200 kilometre per hour to about 100 kilometre per hour now. The cyclone has now converted from a very severe cyclonic storm to a severe storm.
The Navy is deploying long range reconnaissance aircraft for damage assessment. Extremely turbulent weather conditions continue to prevail over the coast. Very heavy rainfall and dense clouds are reported.
The high velocity winds battered Visakhapatnam, which is home to a Naval base, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and East Godavari districts throwing normal life out of gear after the cyclone made landfall shortly before noon downing power and communication lines and closing roads and railways. The port city of Vishakapatnam is without power supply since Sunday night and communication systems have collapsed at many places.
Trees were uprooted and roofs of thatched huts and sheds and hoardings blown away and streets largely wore a deserted look as panic-stricken residents remained indoors. Transport services came to to a halt in the region. Flights were also disrupted.
The Railways cancelled 58 trains and diverted 50 trains on the Vizag route in view of the situation, officials said. According to AP's Revenue (Disaster Management) Department, the cyclone left railway lines in Visakhapatnam badly damaged, besides causing "damage" to the airport there. A total of 2,48,004 people were "affected" by Hudhud, which also damaged 70 houses, it said.
In Odisha, blackouts have hit many areas in the southern part of the state. Communication lines are also down as the state scrambles resources to prepare for the threat of floods as heavy rains are likely to continue for the next three days.
"We are all prepared. 67,752 people have been evacuated in Gajapati, Ganjam, Korapur and other districts to 604 safe shelters. We are monitoring the situation and are taking all possible steps," said Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
"The course of this cyclone in the coming three days - October 13, 14, 15 - will affcet other states including Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, east Vidarbha, east Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. In its course, there will be widespread rainfall activity," said LS Rathore of the Indian Met Department.
Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth said, "There's always the danger that there could be damage to life and property. Extreme caution is advised. State administrations have been alert and have been taking all necessary actions. National crisis management committee met again. The Prime Minister enquired and reviewed the situation. He is keeping a close watch."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and discussed relief and rescue measures and promised all possible assistance, as NDRF teams were pressed into service. "The situation is serious," Naidu said, as he requested the Centre to declare the cyclone a 'national calamity'.
(With additional information from PTI)
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